BYU's Jones denies bias

[Make7]

BYU's Jones denies bias
By Tad Walch
Deseret Morning News

    PROVO — Stung by what he said are false accusations of anti-Semitism, Brigham Young University physics professor Steven Jones said Wednesday he has decided to stop talking about who might have been behind what he has alleged was government involvement in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

        <- snip ->

    BYU placed Jones on paid leave last week, in part for what it called "the increasingly speculative and accusatory nature of these statements by Dr. Jones."
    The action came two days after Jones appeared on KUER-FM 90.1's respected news talk show "Radio West." On the show, he said it appeared responsibility for the attacks rested with Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle and an "international banking cartel."
    The statement drew immediate response from Jews who said they were offended because references to international banking have for decades been used by anti-Semitic groups as codespeak to blame Jews for various problems. Hitler often blamed "international financiers" for Germany's debt after World War I.
    A spokesman for the Anti-Defamation League said he will recommend in a committee meeting tomorrow that the ADL send a letter to BYU complaining about the comments and expressing concern that such comments might be made by Jones in his classes. BYU relieved Jones of his teaching load this semester while it conducts a formal review of his research and statements.
    "Wow, I don't know if he could be any clearer," said Jonathan Bernstein, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League for California, Utah and Hawaii. "This is the language we hear from David Duke and other hatemongers who want to scapegoat Jews."
    Jones was flummoxed by the accusation, saying he was "startled" when told the phrase carried anti-Semitic overtones. He wasn't sure where he got the phrase because he was referring to the work of Webster Tarpley, a historian and member of the Scholars for 9/11 Truth, a group co-founded by Jones. Tarpley refers only to a shadowy, rogue network, not to international bankers.
    "I'll name them as Tarpley names them," Jones said on KUER. "Wolfowitz and Perle, in particular — they do happen to be neocons — but there is a much larger group behind these (attacks) which is the international banking cartel which controls trillions of dollars and which has an interest in controlling countries in the Middle East which are not under their control."

        <- snip ->

    Jones said he doesn't blame Jews for the attacks.
    "I had no idea this would be some sort of codespeak for anti-Semitism," Jones said. "It is not right to link such a group to Jews."
    Salt Lake Valley resident Scott Klepper said Jones' statements were hurtful. "As a Jew, I view Jones' unsubstantiated conclusion as an affront to the Jewish community, to BYU and to real researchers and academics."

http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,645201360,00.html

Wow - what a misunderstanding.

- Make7

[FoxOnTheRun]

1. Don't mess with them ...Jonesy

[greyl]

2. In his defense, Jones may just be ignorant.

There are plenty of DUers who unknowingly link to anti-semitic websites just because of an article or two that support 9/11 theories.
However, the fact that Jones claims he was just repeating stuff that he heard Tarpley say doesn't exactly boost my confidence in his critical thinking skills.

[FoxOnTheRun]

3. You can think critically, but without data you are going in circles

Like the philosophers in greece who thought fire, earth, water and air were the four elements.

[greyl]

5. What did I say wrong?

(Or, are you talking about Jones?)

[FoxOnTheRun]

6. He is a physics professor, can't he be educated by a historian like

Tarpley?

Tarpley uses his stuff and Jones uses his stuff.

Because Jones cites Tarpley, what does this have to do with critical thinking.
Do you think Tarpley makes unsubstantiated claims? As far as I know Tarpley speculates sometimes, but when he does he says so.

[greyl]

7. A historian like Tarpley? You must be joking.

Jones & Malloy; What do they have in common?

[FoxOnTheRun]

8. They live in an authoritarian state

[greyl]

9. That's the last time I rush to defend Jones. nt

[FoxOnTheRun]

10. We know that a made up article be WorldNetDaily started his

downfall. We don't even know if it'S true or just a smear campaign


Here in Germany or Europe historians go to jail for asking the wrong questions, it's not that bad in the US yet, but the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave is on it's way.

[John Q. Citizen]

4. How could Jones say that? We know Paul Wolfowitz and Richard Perle

are the good guys.

/sarcasm

[tenseconds]

12. clever

You're a clever poster. You could be an infiltrator.

[greyl]

13. I hope that was sarcasm. nt

[SidDithers]

11. And the Jones implosing continues...

no pun intended.

Sid